Device for bending metallic track-rails



APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0, I9 I9.

Patented June 8, 1920.

FIG. 2-

INVENTOR WILLIAM LOUDEN, or rAIRrIELn, IOW A.

DEVICE FOR BENDING METALLIC TRACK-RAILS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LoUnEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement 'in- Devices for Bending Metallic Track-Rails, of which the following is a specification. r

My inventionrelates to means for bending metallic overhead track-rails, and it consists of a novel construction and arrangement of a pair of portable metallic plates to receive and hold the rails to be bent, and

which can be taken into thebuilding or structure in which the overhead track is to be installed, and be attached to opposite sides of a stationary timber, and by inserting a section of the rail in openings in said plates, it may be bent or curved in any clirection to fit the location in which it is to be installed, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying'drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective embodying my invention and showing a partially bent track-rail in position to be further bent to shape. Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the track-rail being removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged inside view of one of the bending 1 plates whichare duplicates of each other.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a vertically disposed timber, which maybe apost in a building in which an overhead track-rail is to be erected. B is a section ofthe track-rail being bent which is angular in cross section and C C are the. bending plates attached to opposite sidesof the tim- 1 Sp'ecificationof Letters Patent. Patented Ju Application filed November 10, 1919. Serial No. 336,828.

her A and extended out beyond the edges of further provided with a number of inwardly projecting points G, which will be forced into the timber and will also help to prevent the plates from being twisted-thereon. v In the portions of one or both of the plates outside of the ribs or flanges F whloh pro ject beyond the timber. ,A, openings H formed to approximate the general contour i of the rail to be bent, and on the edges of these openings may be thickened portions I which serve to strengthen the plates and help to prevent them from cracking at the openings when under a strain. To bend the rail B all that is necessary is to insert it in the openings H of the plates C, and then pry on the extended end of the rail sufiiciently to cause it to bend. This may be done in any direction desired,upward, downward, or-

sidewise, as may be required. Usually it is only necessary to bend the rail upward or downward.

It is necessary that thetrack-rail be 'pre-- vented from rotating in the openings H, otherwise the upward and downward bends might become inclined or sidewise bends in the track-rail, and vice-versa. Also that the openings H in both of the'plates be entirely surrounded by substantial material. IThere will be considerable strain on the plates, but being secured to opposite sides of the timber A by bolts or lag screws D, and being provided with the ribs or flanges F and thickened portions 1, and, if desired, with V the inwardly projectingpoints G, the plates will stand a strain sufficient to bend'an ordinary track-rail without being broken or' twisted out of shape. I

r In the drawings the openings in both ,0 the plates are shownfto conform approximately to the cross-section contour of the track-rail. This is preferable but not indise:

pensable. the opening in one of the plates provided with recesses, or a recess, to catch on an angular portion of thetrack-raih'and thus prevent the'rotation of the track-railin'the opening'while it is being bent.

If the projecting end of'the rail should be too short to get a sufficient pry to bend it, a

piece of pipe of suflicient size and length to get the necessary leverage may be slipped over the end of the rail, or other suitable means may be used to get sufficient lateral pressure ,to do the necessary bending. Usually all that'is necessary is for the operator to take hold of the extended end of the rail, or the auxiliary pipe when used, and press on it sufficiently-upward, downward, or sidewise to produce the necessary bend. 'The plates C being substantially du- All that is necessary is to have plicates, and of the structure described, may z Y be taken into the building, or other place I I where the track is to be erected, and may be readily secured to a post of a size greater laterally than the attaching faces of the i first the rail should not be properly bent it can be quickly replaced and bent again, and

again if necessary, until it will be made to fit its location without having to remove it from the building in which it is to be in' stalled. The openings H being made to cor- I respond with the contour of the track there is no liability of the track being improperly inserted or being rotated therein whereby it might be bent in the wrong direction, so that the wheel supporting flanges of the trackrail might become uneven, and out of proper relation to the wheels of the trolley or the carrier to run thereon. The device is exceedingly cheap and simple, and is alsoexceedingly expeditious and effective in operation.

What I claim is v 1. In a device for bending a track-rail having an angular cross-section, the combination with a pair of companion plates, comprising, vattaching-portions adapted to be secured to the opposite sides or faces of a post and beyond such attaching-portions provided with extensions alining with the attaching-portions, said extensions having corresponding angular openings adapted to receive and substantially conform to the angularity of a rail-section to be bent.

2. In a device for bending a track-rail having an angular cross-section, the com bination with a pair of companion plates, comprising, attaching-portions adapted to be secured to the opposite sides or facesof a post and beyond, such attaching-portions provided with extensions, one of said extensions having anangular opening adaptedto receive" and substantially conform to the angularity of arail-section tobe bent.

3. The combination of a pair of metallic .plates'adapted to be secured without interference ofa'ny of the parts to the opposite sides of a timber of any substantial size with ends extending beyond one side of the timber, flanges on the inner sides of the extended ends of the'plates bearing against the adj acent edges of the timber, and openings in the extended ends of each of the plates beyond the flanges, through which a metallic track-rail may be passed andbe bent in any direction by lateral pressure thereon, the openings being formed to fit the general contour of the track-rail to prevent rotation of the rail therein.

4;. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of'companion plates", comprising, flat attaching portions adapted to be secured to the opposite sides or faces of a postrectangular in cross section, each of said plates having on its inner face a vertically disposed flange adapted to overlapthe front face of such post, and beyond suchflange provided with an extension hav ing an opening,.the opening of-one of such extensions being angular and approximating the angularity of the rail-section to be received and bent. p

5. The combination with. apair of companion plates, comprising, flat attaching portions adapted to be secured to the opp ositesides or faces of a post rectangular in cross-section, each of said plates havingon its inner face a vertically disposed flange adapted to overlap the front face of such post, and beyond such flange provided with an extension having an opening, the openhaving an angularity agreeing substantially with that of the rail-section to be bent.

6. The combination with a pair of companion plates, comprising attaching-portions adapted to be secured to the opposite sides ofa post, said plates, beyond their attaching-portions having extensions adapted to project beyond the front face of said post and each provided with an opening adapted to receivev a rail-section to be bent, said open ings being of such shape asvwill adapt them to engage one or more flanges of said rail.- section and prevent rotation of the rail sec tion therein. Y J

F airfield, Iowa, October 28th, 1919. r V i WILLIAM LOUDEN 

